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The Historic Chatham Dockyard RNLI Historic Lifeboats Collection

The Historic Chatham Dockyard, Main Gate Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
  • The most accessible entrance has: a slight ramp/slope.
  • There is step free access to the majority of the venue once inside.
  • This venue also has the following available: seating, a companion/carer discount and audio format information.
  • The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.

Parking (Main Car Park)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
  • There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
  • Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces and a road crossing.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

Public Transport

  • There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
  • The nearest train station is Gillingham.
  • Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 173cm.

Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 125cm.
  • Comments View
    • The security barriers, shown in photograph 1, have a ticket bar code reader that is 92cm high. The barriers automatically open away from you.
    • The ramp and corridor, shown in photographs 2-5, lead towards the Command of the Oceans gallery space and the two exit doors that lead outside.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans to Museum Square: External Site Area)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 168cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a very slight slope by the first set of automatic doors, shown in photograph 2.
    • The slight slope is located beyond the second automatic door as shown in photograph 4.

Entrance

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are double manual doors which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 466cm.

Attraction / Exhibit

  • There is ramped/sloped access to or in this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: audio description, pictorial and information board.
  • There are bench seats in this area.
  • There are listening points around the paths that are approximately 135cm-140cm high (photographs 2 and 3).
    There is ramped access to a raised level where boats can be seen close up.
    To the rear of the exhibit there is a small hut with a further information listening point that is 100cm high, information boards, a TV screen and a bench 45cm high (photographs 8-11).
    Photograph 12 shows 'Lifeboat man' which is 16cm to 170cm high. It is hands-on and interactive.

Walkways and Seating

  • The walkways are wooden and are shiny/ reflective in most areas.
  • Visitors can avoid the steep ramped sections within the exhibit by avoiding the ramp up to the higher level and by accessing the rear hut/building from the front.
  • Photographs 1-6 show the route from the front to the back of the area, whilst photographs 7 and 8 show the bench seating.

Ramp or Slope (Upwards Ramp)

  • A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.

Ramp or Slope (Downwards Ramp)

  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.

Entrance (Life Boat)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are double manual doors which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 190cm.
  • Comments View
    • This small building / hut to the rear of the exhibit can be accessed via a slight ramp at the front (photographs 2 and 3), or via a steep ramp to the rear (photographs 4 and 5). The rear entrance is 139cm wide.

Entrance (Link / Access into The Big Space)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • Comments View
    • There are two ramps. The minimum width via this link is approximately 95cm.
    • The first concrete slope is slight and the metal gate here is held permanently open by rope.
    • The second metallic ramp has a slight gradient with rope handrails on both sides.

Steps (Sennen Cove and James Leath Lifeboats)

  • There are 10 or more steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.

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